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Manager promises great player as Rangers close in on deal

Preston manager Simon Grayson has said Rangers are getting a “fantastic footballer” in Joe Garner ahead of his medical and imminent arrival at the Scottish giants.

Grayson said that it would be a big loss to lose Garner as he is a firm fans favourite, but that they will reinvest and reiterated that no player is bigger than the team.

“Joe has been a fantastic servant for Preston and is a fans’ favourite, so the supporters will be disappointed to see him go. But he is not the first fans’ favourite to leave a football club and this club has to move on,” Grayson told the Lancashire Evening Post.

“I expect Joe’s deal to be done in the next 24 hours or so, there’s a reason why it won’t happen until then but it will get done.

“I’ve said all along that we didn’t have to sell him or want to but when the bid came in it’s only fair to ask a player.

“Joe stressed all along that he wanted to pursue the option of going to Rangers. It’s disappointing but it’s Joe’s decision.

“If it goes through, I thank Joe for what he has done here, he has been a friend and a fantastic footballer.

“It is now about this group of players and what they can do in the months ahead.

“The money we will get for Joe and his wages – if it goes through – will be used to improve the squad for this season, next season and beyond that.”

TalkSport claimed on Monday that the Scottish giants have agreed a fee of £1.8million with Championship club Preston for the striker, 28.

It is said that Garner is set to sign a three-year deal with Mark Warburton’s club, becoming the ninth player to move from England to Rangers this summer.

Garner, who won the Football League One Player of the Year award during the Lilywhites promotion to the Championship in 2014-15, has been the Championship club’s main source of goals since joining Grayson’s side.

Preston’s number 14 has scored an impressive 57 goals in 150 appearances in all competitions, with 49 of his strikes coming in the last three seasons.

The centre-forward has scored more than 100 career goals during his 10 years in the football league, plying his trade for sides such as Carlisle, Huddersfield and Watford.

Garner signed for Preston after being released by Watford in 2013, and currently has two years remaining on his Deepdale contract.